After 88 internationals and 13 years at the top of the women's game, Matildas veteran goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri has retired from international football.

Barbieri, who was last week inducted in the Football Federation Victoria Hall of Fame, bows out after a career that included appearances at four FIFA Women's World Cups, three AFC Asian Cups and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved over the years," said Barbieri reflecting on her career.

"I came into the sport as a child being told women don’t play football and grew up in an Italian household where women predominantly stayed at home and looked after the kids and certainly didn’t venture out into a male dominated sport, so I feel like I’ve broken down a lot of barriers becoming a footballer."

A promising midfielder in her youth, Barbieri made the switch from outfield to between the posts in 2000 and two years later the custodian made her debut for the Matildas against Canada.

What followed was over decade of historic moments highlighted by a silver medal at the 2006 AFC Asian Cup, the Matildas first World Cup wins and quarter final appearances at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, captaining Australia to its first silverware at the 2010 AFC Asian Cup and a historic quarter-final run at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

“I debuted in Canada in 2002 and my last game was in Canada which is an amazing turn of events and it’s a journey that I’m very proud of.”

“Becoming captain was probably the most memorable part of my career before winning the Asian Cup in 2010, and then ultimately coming back into the team and finishing off with a cap in Canada where my international career began,” Barbieri stated as career highlights.

Off the pitch, Barbieri also led the way with her comeback to the game after the birth of daughter Holly seeing her fight to return to the national team despite many obstacles.

“Being a footballer can be very selfish at times so it’s a matter of doing what’s best for everyone involved in helping me pursue my international career, especially my mum and my husband but most importantly my daughter Holly considering how old she is and the amount of time I have to spend away from her,” Barbieri she concluded.

Her on pitch exploits saw the 35 year old named in the Football Federation Australia's Team of the Decade (2000 -2013) in 2013 and will see her retire as one of the greats of Australian women's football.

Head coach Alen Stajcic spoke of the impact Barbieri has had on the game in Australia.

“She’s unique in a sense that she came from being a field player to becoming a goalkeeper and to have such a long and successful career is a tribute to how much work and effort she put into her game,” Stajcic said.

“She captained her country and has been a prominent person on and off the field…overall she has made a massive contribution to the game.”

Melissa Barbieri is expected to finish her career in Melbourne in the upcoming W-League season.

https://twitter.com/CaitlinFoord/status/646864357914079232

https://twitter.com/Craig_Foster/status/646860473917304832

https://twitter.com/samkerr1/status/646861521302130688

https://twitter.com/vuka20/status/646874980488089601

https://twitter.com/HayleyRaso/status/646865274923184128